ROUTE 1 referees are professionals, who can countersign a copy of an official document confirming your identity as being true to the original. Check a list of permitted Route 1 referees to find out who can act as one.

If the referee knows you personally the countersigned document confirming your identity can be one of the following:

birth certificate

certified copy of a birth certificate

NHS Medical Card

CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) Check document

European Health Insurance Card.

The following photographic ID documents can be used whether the referee knows you or not:

passport

UK photo driving licence

EU National ID Card

Home Office approved photo ID

PASS card (bearing the PASS hologram).

You must show an original document confirming your identity to your referee, ask them to countersign a photocopy of it and post it to us together with your CitizenCard application. Please do not send original documents.

Additionally, if you have changed your name since birth and the document shows your old name, please show the original marriage certificate(s) or change of name deed(s) to your referee, ask them to countersign the photocopies and then send them to us together with the above.